USA Water Polo CEO Chris Ramsey to Retire After 2024 Games

Chris Ramsey will retire as chief executive officer at USA Water Polo following the 2024 Olympic Summer Games in Paris, the national governing body announced on Wednesday.

Ramsey has been with the NGB for 17 years and is one of the longest-tenured leaders in the U.S. Olympic movement since the Amateur Sports Act was passed in 1978.

“Leading USA Water Polo has been a privilege,” said Ramsey. “The successes of USA Water Polo are a testament to the work and commitment of our athletes, coaches, officials, staff and board of directors, as well as our community of parents and volunteers. Our members are passionate about our sport and I am bullish on water polo’s prospects under the next generation of leadership, especially with the LA Olympic Games coming in 2028.”

The USA women’s national team has dominated the global stage with three consecutive Olympic gold medals and five world championships. The men’s team achieved historic success, winning an Olympic silver in 2008. Both U.S. National Teams have seen success in recent years in the Water Polo World Cup as well, which USA Water Polo hosted this year. The U.S. women won their fourth straight and fifth overall title after defeating the Netherlands in the final. The U.S. men finished in fourth place this year after silver medals in 2020 and 2022.

“Chris’s dedication and visionary leadership have been instrumental in elevating USA Water Polo to new heights,” said Bill Smith, USA Water Polo board chairman. “His commitment to excellence has been nothing short of inspirational. We are profoundly grateful for his years of service and the legacy he leaves behind.”

USA Water Polo membership now totals nearly 50,000, doubling participation in the past decade. Financially, the organization has increased revenue to $16 million in 2022 from under $4 million in 2006. Ramsey was central to expanding the success of the National Junior Olympics, now the world’s largest water polo tournament, and in launching the USAWP Olympic Development Program, helping grow it from 300 participants in 2009 to more than 6000 in 2023.